Ah, it’s a gorgeous day in Robert Lee, Texas

I just had a phone call from my two-years-younger brother. Helpful and concerned for my welfare as brothers always are, Jim wanted me to know how much he is enjoying an absolutely gorgeous day sitting on the porch of our grandparents’ old house in Robert Lee, Texas, and taking a break from taking a break. We should “rejoice with those who rejoice,” right?

Yeah. Sorry scuzzbucket!

I’m mainly jealous that he’s already there and I’m still digging hard trying to get away!

This is the time of year my three brothers and I try annually to move heaven and earth and four pastors’ schedules to enjoy some time together. (Yep, four in the ministry. And a father who was a minister. A family of priests and Levites, I guess you could say. Alas, no one made good and will be even remotely tempted to staple a spreadsheet and a résumé to his tombstone!)

The scheduling was even more challenging than usual this year, but here we go! I tell you the truth, I’ve been to some great places, but I’d rather spend a few days in Robert Lee with those worthless characters than lounge three weeks at anyone’s ocean resort. Those days are balm for my soul and far more valuable than a high-dollar “ministry seminar” could be.

I suppose most folks enjoy a special bond with other folks who do what they do work-wise. That’s at least part of the enjoyment of these Robert Lee days. It’s true that my brothers and I all hail from the Protestant tradition and affirm the idea of the “priesthood of all believers,” the truth that, in a beautiful sense, all Christians are ministers. But to think that all Christians can understand the challenges of full-time parson’s work is obvious nonsense—something like saying that “all homeowners are plumbers.” Or like saying that I can really understand the challenges of a plumber, or a brain surgeon, or . . . Preachers’ challenges may not be harder than those faced in other professions, but they are certainly not easier, and are at least as unique.

I confess for them. My brothers are all sorry scoundrels. Still, it strikes me as an amazing blessing to have one’s own brothers also as colleagues and mentors and friends. Like coaches (too much like them for comfort) any preacher can easily find someone who’s never tried it—or worse, tried it for ten minutes once upon a time— who knows better how your job should be done. But I think these three guys really do. Coveyed up around a fire pit in Robert Lee will soon be four guys with a combined 160-plus years of ministry experience. That’s almost enough to begin to know how much we don’t know.

Still, sinful pride is insidious. I suspect that at least two of those guys think they know a little about plumbing.